COUPLED 2025

Modeling Fractures Using the Finite Volume Approach for Practical Reservoir Applications

  • Novikov, Aleks (TU Delft)
  • Voskov, Denis (TU Delft)

Please login to view abstract download link

In this talk, I will review our experience with modeling of fractured reservoirs using the collocated Finite Volume Method (FVM). A system of equations is developed using a fully implicit, coupled approach to describe flow, elastic deformation, and contact mechanics at fault surfaces on a fully unstructured mesh. The cell-centered collocated scheme facilitates seamless integration of the governing physical equations, as the unknowns are collocated within the discrete mesh. A general multi-point flux approximation is employed to address heterogeneity, anisotropy, and cross-derivative terms in both flow and mechanics equations. While the resulting system demonstrates flexibility and accuracy, its computational cost can be prohibitive for field-scale applications. To address this challenge, a scalable parallel linear solution algorithm with block-partitioning preconditioning strategy is introduced. Several proof-of-concept numerical tests, including benchmarks with analytical solutions, validate the approach. The method proves to be accurate, stable, and efficient, making it a promising tool for the precise and efficient simulation of flow and geomechanics in practical reservoir applications.